1996 Audi A4 Steering
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
WHILE DRIVING POWER STEERING RACK ASSEMBLY FAILED, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKE CONTROL. ALSO SEALER BROKE WHICH RESULTED IN POWER STEERING FLUID TO LEAK, DAMAGING BRAKE PADS AND DISC. VEHICLE CRASHED DAMAGING FRONT END. DEALERSHIP NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. *TT *NLM
AUDI OF NORTH AMERICA RECALLED THEIR 1999 MODEL A4S FOR FAILURE OF THE TIE RODS. I OWN A 1996 A4 WITH TIE RODS THAT FAILED AND AUDI OF NORTH AMERICA AND THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO REPAIR THE DAMAGED TIE RODS UNDER THE RECALL NOTICE EVEN THOUGH THE FAILURE WAS EXACTLY AS OUTLINED IN THE ORIGINAL RECALL NOTICE SENT TO ALL AUDI DEALERS. I READ RECENTLY IN THE LOS ANGELES TIMES THAT AN OWNER WITH A 1998 A4 EXPERIENCED EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM. IT APPEARS THE RECALL SHOULD COVER ALL MODEL YEARS OF THE A4. I REQUESTED AND SAVED THE DAMAGED TIE RODS IF YOU WOULD HAVE INTEREST IN SEEING THEM. I BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM PRESENTS A SEVERE DANGER TO OPERATERS OF THIS VEHICLE AND THAT THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY BY AUDI. DT
CONTROL RODS LOOSE ACCORDING TO AUDI DEALER. CONFIRMED BY INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. INDPT SHOP ALSO NOTED THAT TIE RODS WERE ALSO SO LOOSE THEY WERE HAZARDOUS AND INDICATED ON RECEIPT TO SHOW AUDI
WHILE DRIVING POWER STEERING BOX MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKE CONTROL, ALSO SEALER BROKE WHICH RESULTED POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKAGE. *AK CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, STEEING RACK ON THE DRIVER SIDE BLOWED OUT GASKET SEAK, THE MINERAL OIL SPRAY OUT UNDER PRESSURE TOWARD THE INSIDE OF FDRONT WHEEL SOAKING BRAKE PADS AND COATING DISC, VEHICLE WAS HARD TO STEER.*SLC
INNER TIE RODS WERE LOOSE AND WORN OUT WHICH COULD EVENTUALLY CAUSE LOSS OF STEERING. RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT THIS VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED. *AK *ML
Trend Over Time
Complaints by year
Other Issues
Common problems reported
Quick Summary
The 1996 Audi A4 has 5 Steering complaints on file. 1 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.